I went into the dragon's lair and found out that it wasn't just the dragon that lived there—there were other beasts as well. Twisted creatures with glowing eyes and snarling jaws prowled the edges of the cavern, each one territorial and aggressive, drawn in by the warmth of the dragon's power. It took effort to move through the lair unnoticed, but when that failed, I was forced to cut down anything that got too close. The deeper I went, the more I realized this wasn't just a nest for one mighty creature—it was a haven for many.
Back in the kingdom, the king had been tirelessly trying to seize control of the mithral mines located in a nearby kingdom known as Oluma. That region was already in chaos, caught in a deep power struggle. Civil unrest had left Oluma fractured and vulnerable, and to the king, that looked like opportunity. But there was a problem: his own army was weak. His knights were too few, too poorly trained, and his resources too stretched to launch an invasion on his own.
Despite his ambition, he lacked the strength to make a move. So, instead, he kept sending desperate messages to Frank—hoping, pleading, demanding that Frank would help. He wanted Frank to march into Oluma and take the mithral mines in the kingdom's name, to make his dream of expansion a reality.
But Frank had rejected every single request.
Now, the king was growing desperate. He sat in his chambers, brooding, wondering how he could manipulate Frank into helping him one last time—just long enough to conquer the mine and claim victory before anyone could stop him.
He had tried other tactics, too. For months now, he had been sending knights in secret to track Frank's movements, hoping to find leverage. But their reports were always the same.
They saw him with a child. A little girl.
And he never left her side.
That detail struck the king like a spark in dry grass.
He saw opportunity. If he couldn't control Frank directly, perhaps he could control the girl.
So he gave the order: keep watching her. If possible, take her kidnap her, even if it cost lives. The child must be captured at all costs. No hesitation. No mercy.
It had been three months since that order was given. The king had heard no confirmation of success, but he knew his men were near. They had been stationed carefully, placed close enough to observe without alerting Frank.
Even when Frank traveled to the dragon's lair, he believed those knights were simply there to monitor him. He had no idea that they had been sent to snatch the girl the moment his guard dropped.
He was confident. Assured. He believed Nina was safe.
But he didn't know the full extent of the king's desperation.
Back in the dragon's lair, clearing the path was easier than expected. The beasts put up little fight. They were wild, but not trained, and they lacked the strength of the true guardian who lived here. Their deaths came quickly.
But when I finally reached the inner sanctum, I was met with a surprise.
The red dragon was not in her monstrous form. Instead, she had taken on her human shape—a tall, elegant woman with crimson hair that shimmered like molten lava. Her presence radiated power, but her posture was calm, welcoming even.
She greeted me with grace, her voice smooth like honey but heavy with age.
"What can I do for you?" she asked politely, as if I had simply wandered into her garden rather than broken through a lair of death.
It caught me off guard.